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Abuse of Power: Full Page NYT Advertisement Slams Climate Witch Hunt

Here is a draft version of an advertisement in The New York Times (NYT) that slams the current climate change witch hunt. This is a draft version. Thanks to metadata, a file copy sent to Newscast Now included earlier revisions. As supporters of freedom of speech, we are publishing the entire unedited earlier draft here right next to a picture of the final published NYT advertisement. The draft included much more extensive biographical information of the signers. Click the graphic to enlarge it.

ABUSE OF POWER

All Americans have the right to support causes they “believe” in.

The right to speak out and commit fraud in business by making knowingly false representations for profit is among the most fundamental principles of American democracy. It should never be taken away.

Yet, around the country, a group of state attorneys general have launched a misguided effort to silence the views and voices of those who disagree with them just because they make trillions on those innocent disagreements.

Recently, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Walker, and a coalition of other “AGs United for Clean Power” announced an investigation of more than 100 high polluting profit businesses, nonprofits, and private individuals who question their positions on climate change.

This abuse of the power to defraud for something as American as good profits is unacceptable. It is unlawful. And it is un-American.

Regardless of our views on climate change, every American should reject the use of government power to harass or silence or hold accountable those who fake their opinions to make money. This intimidation campaign sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the rights of anyone who wants any honesty at all in transactions—whether it’s vaccines, GMOs, baby formula, leeching, or any other politically charged issue. Law enforcement officials should never use their powers to reduce profits just because science is ‘politicized’ by polluting industries.

We are standing up for every American’s First Amendment right to listen attentively. We care about YOU! If we cannot publish highly-polished contorted climate change studies out of a small slice of our trillions of dollars of profit, then your children will no longer be allowed to ask questions to the teacher in class.

We hope you will join because we can never get enough persuasive power. This is a critical battle, and it will determine whether our society allows business profits to fund incredible science or if the government communists will demand access to your home and demand to share your toothbrush.

Andrew C. McCarthy
Former Chief Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of New York; writer of ideological books including The Grand Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America; major war supporter at the Republican war periodical National Review.

Jim DeMint
President, The Heritage Foundation funded by Koch brothers, Republican senator, most famous for his objectivity in explaining his support of voter restrictions: “In the states where they do have voter ID laws you’ve seen, actually, elections begin to change towards more conservative candidates.”

James H. Amos, Jr.
President & CEO, National Center for Policy Analysis, almost needless to say, funded by Koch brothers.

Adam Brandon
President & CEO, FreedomWorks Foundation which does not disclose all donors. This think-tank is partially funded by the Bradley Foundation, which was created by Harry Bradley who founded the Birch Society with Fred Koch, the father of the Koch brothers. Koch brothers have used their buddies at the Bradley Foundation to fund many of their newer Tea Party groups because they love transparency so much.

John C. Eastman
Founding Director, The Claremont Institute’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, funded by that same small crowd who work with the Koch brothers — Coors, Scaife, Bradley. Law Professor John Eastman is also known for his intriguing question, “What If Fetuses Do Feel Pain?” In his article at Koch-funded Federalist Society, he stated that the “United States is one of only four nations in the world that allows for abortion on demand at any time during pregnancy.” This of course is not true. The law professor ought to take a look at Roe v. Wade which said something about “trimesters.” Never mind that now — John C. Eastman signed this NYT ad.

Robert Alt
President & CEO, The Buckeye Institute, funded by Koch brothers; also a member of many other Koch-funded groups.

Michael Pack
President & CEO, The Claremont Institute (again), and a GWB appointee to a humanities position. He produced documentaries at PBS including “Inside the Republican Revolution: The First Hundred Days.” Need more than that title? These “documentaries” were funded by the same families that usually work with Koch brothers — in this case — Bradley and Olin. In at least one case, Michael Pack took money from one of the propaganda tanks, then took the same money again from the taxpayers — all so the “liberal media” could broadcast these advertisements as some kind of news. Count on Michael Pack doubly to provide the truth.

Lynn Taylor
President, Tertium Quids, another member of the Koch network, the State Policy Network, and the mystery “Donors” groups — another totally independent expert trying to educate us through advertising.

Tracie Sharp
President & CEO, State Policy Network or SPN, which is the very glue that holds the Koch funded web of state organizations together. These groups prepare the model bills that state legislators sponsor, and in return, the legislators become sponsored in campaigns. But its not bribery! Freedom of speech!

Kenneth Haapala
President, Science and Environmental Policy Project, funded by at least four major oil companies, and finding no connection between carbon dioxide and climate change coincidentally enough.

John Tillman
CEO, Illinois Policy Institute. Could this group be part of the State Policy Network and the Koch think-tank empire? Yes! Got some ambiguous “Donors Trust” funding in here too. The group also acts as a real-time promoter of the sitting governor with fake news reports. Put it aside — fraud speech is free speech!

The Liberal Media
Free (as in no cost) outlet for articles, commentaries and perspectives by many of the above signatories, properly disguised as ‘fair’ coverage of both sides of the news and almost always without disclosing the funding sources of the think-tanks and organizations involved.